Advocacy in Regional Transportation Funding Referendums

Abstract

This study examines five metro areas in the US that have developed regional transportation systems using funding from multi-jurisdictional ballot referendums. This study focuses on the role of advocacy groups in contributing to the proposal given to the electorate, and in supporting or opposing it at the polls. This study examines how best practices for regions conducting transportation referendums should differ from those already in the literature for cities and counties doing the same. Through interviews in five regions that have conducted regional transportation referendums since 1990, the evidence indicates that advocacy groups became involved in the process earlier, and were more likely to support the transportation plan when the state government had preauthorized the ballot referendum, and when the process was led by an established regional agency. Advocacy groups were less likely to do the same when the referendum required special state legislation, and when there was no regional transportation provider to lead the effort.